Reversible flow air conditioning system



Dec. 6, 1938. H. D. EUWER 59,262

REVERSIBLE FLOW AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Filed Sept. l, 1936 5 SheetS-Sheet 1 fsf INVENTR /iref'i [uwer Dec. 6, 1938. H. D. EUWER REVERSIBLE FLOW AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Filed Sept. l, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIA INVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec, 6, w38; HD. EUWER REVERSIBLE FLOW AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed sept. 1, 1936 ATTORNEY Dec., 6, 1938., H. D. EUWER' REVRSIBLE FLOW AIR CONDITIONING SYSTM Filed Sept. l, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 R O T N E V m Her'e/'ZLD Eu wr IIHHHHH l I I I l l l l ATTORNEY Dec. 6', 1938. H. D. EUwr-:FeY

` REVERSIBLE FLOW AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Filed Sept. l, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR f /erer uwer ATTORNEY lill) liti Patented Dee. 6, 1938 REWERSEIFL FL@ MR @NDITH SYSTEM -Herbert D. lEuwer, St. lLouis, llllo., assior to American 'Car and Foundry Company, New Forli, itl. F., a corporation ot' New Mersey Application September'll, i336, Serial No. llillit l i9 (Claims. (i311. 25W-fl) This invention relates to air conditioning systems in general and in particular to reversible air flow air conditioning systems for use on railway vehicles during all seasons of the year.

Previous air conditioning systems have been intended primarily for use either in summer or winter with the air iiow being the same, that is, discharging conditioned air from the top of the vehicle and allowing it to diffuse through the car to be drawn oi at the lower portion for recirculation, With such systems the warm air being discharged at the top portion tended to retain the heat in the upper part of the car without proper warmth being .supplied to the lower part of the vehicle making it necessary to supply additional heat directly at the floor line.

In the previous constructions the cooling unit and blowers have been placed over the vestibule ceiling or in some other equally inaccessible position and if .heating were used, then the unsightly iioor heating pipes were installed.

It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a combined heating and cooling unit which is located in a readily accessible position within the car.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a combined heating and cooling unit for all seasons, in which the heating and cooling elements are physically separated and a single blower provided to move the air through the units.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a dual all-seasons unit in which the blower may be bodily moved to cause vthe air movement within the unit to be reversed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an all-seasons air conditioning system for railway vehicles inwhich the direction of air flow Within the vehicle may be reversed.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a reversible ow al1-seasons air conditioning unit in which fresh air is positively supplied to the unit.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an al1-seasons air conditioning unit having heating and cooling coils but in which the air need flow through but one set of coils at a time.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from a study of the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a transverse sectional'view showing the unit with the blower disclosed by full lines in the left hand or cooling position and by dash and dot line in the right hand or heating position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the unit taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig 3 is a side view of the unit taken in the direction of the arrow Si of Fig. 2;

Fig. i is a horizontal sectional View through the 5 upper portion of the unit, with portions broken away to more fully disclose the construction;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the lower portion of the unit and showing the heat exchange coils;

Fig. 6 is a -view of the unit applied to the railway vehicle and showing the air ow during cooling operation;

Fig. 'l is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the air now during operation of the unit in heating; l5

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a railway vehicle showing at the left hand. the air iiow during cooling operation and at the right the air flow during the heating operation of the unit, and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the car shown in Fig. 8 all with the upper portion of the gure disclosing the air flow during cooling and the lower portion the air :flow during heating operation.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it is seen that the unit comprises, a casing formed g5 with side walls 2 and t joined byangles; t, top wall/t and bottom wall or door The casing is divided into two parts by means of a partition lll extending between the vside walls il to which it is attached by angles it. The partition doesnot exyo tend between the top and bottom walls to fully divide the casing, but is of such a length as to provide upper and lower openings it and it respectively. The partition wall is stiiened adjacent its upper edge by an angle or other means 35 IB (Fig. l) to which is secured a plate I9 hingedly supporting doors or aps 20, these doors or flaps are adapted to close against the plate adjacent the intermediate supporting angle 22 extending between the side walls. Attached to this plate 40 adjacent the angle are a second set of doors or iaps 24 adapted to close against the plate adiacent the outer angle or other means 26 secured to the casing Wall. lThe doors or aps have projections 28 attached thereto and pivotally joined 45 by bar 30 to the outer end of which is adjustably attached the outer end of a spring 32, the inner endof the spring being attached to a bracket 34 secured to the upper portion of the partition. The

spring is constantly under tension and will, there- 50 fore, hold the doors or aps in their closed or horizontal position, thus closing the space between the side walls and partition at all times unless prevented by some external means as will be described later.

The upper edge of the partition is also provided with an upstanding strip 36 carrying resilient sealing means 36 against which abuts a table 38 xedly mounted upon rod 48 pivotally mounted on the casing side walls by means of bearing brackets 42. The table has its side edges anged as at 44 and the upper and side edges have a -sealing engagement with resilient strip 46 se-v cured to the casing top and side walls. The table will, when in the vertical position shown, cooperate with the sealing strips to completely close the upper opening i4. Short straps 48 are secured to the table and extend downwardly therefrom into engagement with the inner flap 20, thus retaining the flaps or doors in their lowered or opened position at such times as the table is in the vertical position. Supporting platform 50 is attached to the table substantially at its center and extends outwardly therefrom sub- Y stantially to the casing side wall and into sealing and supporting engagement with angle 52 secured to the casing wall. The platform has attached thereto substantially at its center the blower motor 54 and blowers 56. The blowers are each enclosed by a scroll casing having inlet 58 and outlet 60 which extends through the supporting platform and is secured in position by angles 62. The side edges of the platform engage sealing strips 63 and completely block the passage between the casing Vwalls and the table to which it is secured, thus the only passage for the air is through the blowers. Bracing side plates 64 connect the table and platform at the edges in order to stiften the structure.

The side of the partition I opposite the hinged doors or flaps has the angle 66 secured thereto and this angle carries a resilient buffer block 61 adapted to contact with the top edge of the table in the lowered position. Strips 68 project upwardly from the angle and join strips 10, all of which are provided with sealing members 12 adapted to contact with the side edges of the table and platform when the blower is on the right side of the casing as'viewed in Fig. 1.

In order to change the position of the blower as desired a handle 14 is xed to the shaft 40 and provided with an extension 15 to which one end of a counterbalancing spring 16 is attached, the other end being secured to bracket 1 fastened to the casing as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Latches 18 and 19 are provided and will automatically engage lug 80 fastened to the handle to hold the blower in either of the positions to which it may be moved.

The left hand portion of the casing as viewed in Fig. l is provided with a bank of heat exchange coils C used for cooling and supported by hangers 82 connected to the casing walls. This bank of coils is supplied with refrigerant through inlet-pipe 83 controlled by .thermostatically operated valve 84 in accordance with the temperature of the refrigerant leaving the coil through outlet pipe 85. Tempering coils T- are located above the cooling coils and are connected toinlet pipe I6 and outlet 81.

The right hand portion of the casing is equipped with independently controlled banks of heating coils H supplied with hot medium through inlet pipes 88 and 89 and drained through outlet pipe 90.

It is thus seen that the heating and cooling portions of the casing are separated and that the resistance to the passage of air is reduced to a minimum, while a single blower may be readily positioned to move the air in the direction desired as will be more fully explained later.

The casing is provided with duct connection 92 located above the cooling coils and adapted to connect to the full length overhead duct 93, while the lower end of the casing is provided with duct connection 94 adapted to be connected to the full length floor duct 96 as shown in Figures 3 and 6 to 9 inclusive. Openings 98 and 99 are provided in the overhead and floor ducts respec tively for the passage of air between the car interior and the ducts. Fresh air inlet F is prof vided on the casing above the heat coils and is equipped with fan |80 which will positively force air into the system and will be operated in a manner as set forth in my copending application Serial 112,421 filed November 23, 1936.

The units are shown as duplicated at either side of the car and at one end, but it is obvious that the position of the unit may be varied in accordance with the desire of the customer and space limitations imposed by the car structure.

Referring now to the operation of the device when cooling is being used as illustrated in Fig. 6, the left hand portion of Fig. 8 and the upper portion of Fig. 9. It is seen that the blower is positioned immediately above the cooling coils with the platform blocking that portion of the casing,

while the table blocks opening I4, thus preventing any air from the blower being forced into the heater side of the casing. The finger 48 of the blower assembly retains the doors or flaps 20, 24 in the open position as explained. With the blower in operation air is drawn into the floor duct throughout the entire area of the car pulled through the cooling and tempering coils past the open doors or flaps into the blower to be forced out into the overhead duct for distribution throughout the car area. Fresh air is vsupplied by the fresh air inlet with the air passing downward through the heat exchange coils and through opening I6 where it mingles with lthe recirculated air prior to being chilled and Fig. 7. In this position of the blower the iinger 48 has released the flap 20 and the flaps 20 andv 24 are free to close, thus blocking the space above the cooling coils. When the blower is operating Athe air for recirculation will be drawn into the overhead duct through opening I4 to mix with the fresh air and then be forced through the heating coils and into the floor duct for distribution as is clearly indicated in Fig. 7, the right hand portion of Fig. 8 and the lower portion of Fig. 9.

It is thus seen that substantially independent heating and cooling units are provided with a single blower being used to serve both units. Also that the air discharged into the car filters through the car space in planes transverse to the ,Y

vehicle and in the direction it would tend to go; that is. vthe warm air is discharged at the floor or coldest part of the car and rises upward to heat evenly the entire car area, while the cold air is discharged at the top or` hottest part of the car What is claimed is:

1. In an air conditioning system for railway vehicles having passenger space, an air duct adjacent the lower portion of the vehicle, an air duct adjacent the upper portion of the Vehicle,A an air conditioning unit connecting said ducts, a set of cooling coils in said unit, a set of heating coils in the unit spaced from the cooling coils, and a blower assembly rotatably mounted in the unit, said blower being selectively shiftable to move air for recirculation through the selected set of coils independently of the other set.

2. In an air conditioning system for railway vehicles having passenger space, an air duct adjacent the lower portion of the vehicle, an air duct adjacent the upper portion lof the vehicle, an air conditioning unit connecting said ducts, a set of cooling coils in. said unit, a set of heating coils in the unit spaced from the cooling coils, and a blower assembly rotatably mounted in the unit, said blower being shiftable into one lposition to move air for recirculation through the cooling coils only for distribution to the passenger space by the upper duct and into another position to move air for recirculation through the heating coils only for distribution to the passenger space by the lower duct.

3. An air conditioning system for railway vehicles having a passenger space, an air duct extending substantially the full length of the passenger space adjacent the lower portion of the vehicle, an air duct extending substantially the full length of the passenger space adjacent the upper portion of the vehicle, an air conditioning unit connecting said ducts adjacent an end of the passenger space,la set of cooling coils in said unit, a set oi heating coils in the unit spaced from the cooling coils, and a blower assembly rotatably mounted in the unit, said blower being selectively shiftable to move air for recirculation through the selected set of coils independent of the other set.

i. An air conditioning system for railway vehicles having a passenger space, an air duct extending substantially the full length of the passenger space adjacent the lower portion of the vehicle, an air duct extending substantially the full length oi the passenger space adjacent the upper portion oi the vehicle, an air conditioning unit connecting said ducts adjacent an end of thepassenger space, a set of cooling coils in said unit, a set of heating coils in the unit spaced from the cooling coils, and a blower assembly rotatably mounted in the unit, said blower assembly being selectively shiftable to cause reversal of the air flow through the ducts and movement of air through one set of coils independently of the other set.

5. In an air conditioning system for railway vehicles having passenger space, an air duct adjacent the lower portion of the vehicle, an air duct adjacent the upper portion of the vehicle, an air conditioning unit connecting said ducts, a set of cooling coils in said unit, a set of heating coils in the unit spaced from the cooling coils, and a blower assembly rotatably mounted in the unit upon a pivot rod located at one side of and parallel to the blower axis, said pivot rod being located in a plane substantially intermediate the L heating and cooling coils whereby said blower assembly may be selectively shifted about said pivot rod to cause reversal of the air flow through the ducts. l

6. In an air conditioning system for railway vehicles having passenger space, an air duct adjacent the lower portion of the vehicle, an air duct adjacent the upper portion oi' the vehicle. an air conditioning unit connecting said ducts, a set of cooling coils in said unit, a set of heatingcoils in the unit spaced from the cooling coils, and a blower assembly rotatably mounted in the unit, said blower assembly being selectively shiftable to cause air flow through the selected set of coils always in a single direction only and the reversal of air flow through the air ducts for distribution.

7. In an air conditioning system for railway vehicles having passenger space, an air duct adjacent the lower portion of the vehicle, an air duct adjacent the upper portion of the vehicle, an air conditioning unit connecting said ducts, a set of cooling coils in said unit, a set of heating coils in the unit spaced from the cooling coils, a blower assembly rotatably mounted in the unit, said blower being selectively shiftable to move air for' recirculation through the selected set of coils independently of the other set, and a fresh air inlet supplying fresh air tothe unit independently of the position of the blower assembly.

8. In an air conditioning system for railway vehicles having passenger space, an air duct adjacent the'lower portion of the vehicle, an air duct adjacent the upper portion of the vehicle, an air conditioning unit connecting said ducts, said air conditioning unit being substantially divided into two parts, independent heat exchange means in each part, and a blower assembly within the unit selectively shiftable to move air through the ducts and through the selected part independently of the remaining part.

9. In an air conditioning system for railway vehicles, a plurality of spaced ducts within the vehicle, an air conditioning .unit connecting certain of the spaced ducts, said air conditioning unit being substantially divided into two parts, and a blower assembly within the unit selectively shiftable to move air through the ducts and through the selected part independently` of the remaining part.

l0. In an air conditioning system for railway vehicles, a plurality of spaced ducts within the vehicle, an air conditioning unit connecting certain of the spaced ducts, said air conditioning unit being substantially divided into two parts,

heat exchange means in each part, and a blower assembly within the unit selectively shiftable from one part to the other to thereby isolate the remaining part and to reverse the how of air through the ducts whereby the air drag is reduced to minimum.

11. In an air conditioning system for railway vehicles, a plurality of spaced ducts within the vehicle, an air conditioning unit connecting cer-- tain of the spaced ducts, said air conditioning unit being substantially divided into two parts. a blower assembly within the unit selectively shiftable to move air for recirculation through the ducts and through the selected part independently of the remaining part, a fresh air inlet, and means in the fresh air inlet positively supplying fresh air to the unit independently of the position of the blower assembly.

12. An air conditioning unit comprising, a casing, a partition dividing said casing substantially into two parts, a set of cooling coils in one part, a set of heating coils in the other part, a. table pivotally mounted above the partition, blower means secured to the table, said table being rotatable to position the blower upon either side of the partition whereby air may be moved through one set of coils independently of the vother set.

13. An air Vconditioning unit comprising. a. casing, a partition dividing said casing substantially into two parts, a set of cooling coils in one part, a set of heating coils in the other part, a table pivl otally mounted above the partition, blower means secured to the table, said table being selectively rotatable to position the blower upon either side of the partition whereby air may be moved upwardly through the cooling coils or downwardly through the heating coils.

14. An air conditioning unit comprising, a casing, a partition dividing said casing substantially into two parts, a set of cooling coils in one part, a set of heating coils in the other part, a table pivotally mounted above the partition, blower means secured to the table, said table being selectively rotatable to position the blower upon either side of the partition whereby air may be moved upwardly through the cooling coils or downwardly through the heating coils, and means in the casing above the cooling coils blocking passage of air through the cooling coils when the blower is in position to move air through the heating coils.

15. An air conditioning unit comprising, a casing, a partition dividing said casing substantially into two parts, a set of cooling coils in one part. a set of heating. coils in the other part. a table pivotally mounted above the partition, blower means secured to the table, said table being selectively rotatable to position the blower upon either side of the partition whereby air may be moved upwardly through the cooling coils or downwardly through the heating coils and means in the casing above the cooling coils automatically operable to block passage of air through the cooling coils when the blower is ro-` .tated out of the part containing the cooling coils.

16. An air conditioning unit comprising, acasing, a partition dividing said casing substan-v tially into two parts, a set of cooling coils in one part, a set of heating coils in the other part, a f

substantially vertical table pivotally mounted above the partition, a substantially horizontal platform carried by the table upon one side thereof, a blower secured to the platform and forming the sole passageway through the platform, said table being selectively rotatable to position said platform and blower upon either side of the partition whereby air may be moved through one set lof coils independently of the other set.

17 An air conditioning unit comprising, a casing, a partition dividing said casing substantially into two parts, a set of cooling coils in one part, a set of heating coils in the other part, a substantially vertical table pivotally mounted above the partition, a substantially horizontal platform carried by the table upon one side thereof, a blower secured to the platform and forming the sole passageway through the platform,r said table being selectively rotatable to position said platform and blower above either set of coils, pivoted doors located within said casing between one set of coils and the platform, said pivoted doors being retained in the open position when the platform is thereabove and retained closed when the platform is in position above the other set of coils.

18.. An air conditioning unit comprising, a casing, a partition dividing said casing substantially into two parts, a set of cooling coils in one part, a set of heating coils in the other part, a substantially vertical table pivotally mounted above the partition, a substantially horizontal platform carried by the table upon one side thereof, a blower secured to the platform and forming the sole passageway through the platform, said table being selectively rotatable to position said platform and blower 4upon either side of vthe partition whereby air may be moved through one set of coils independently of theother set, a fresh air inlet, and means in said inlet to force fresh air into the unit.

19. An air conditioning unit comprising, a casing, a partition dividing said casing sub.- stantially into two parts, a set of cooling coils in one part, a set of heating coils in the other part, a table pivotally mounted above the partition, blower means secured to the table, said table being selectively rotatable to position the blower upon either side of the partition whereby air may be moved upwardly through the cooling coils or downwardly through the heating coils, a fresh air inlet, and means in said inlet to force fresh air downward through the heating coils.

HERBERT D. EUWER. 

